Cotswold Cutz LADIES & GENTS • Chimney liners HAIRSTYLISTS • Bird guards

CHURCH STREET WILLERSEY • Pots fitted  01386 852219 • Pointing and repairs • Gutters cleaned • Broken roof tiles replaced.

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BACON SAUSAGE COOKED MEATS PIES etc

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Weston-sub-Edge Village Hall (Registered Charity No.267532)

offers an excellent venue for up to 100 people. It includes a well equipped kitchen and all amenities for business or leisure. The spacious hall has good lighting, power points and gas fired central heating all included in the hire fee.

Ample parking, hearing loop and WiFi available.

Hall bookings can be made by calling Becky White - email [email protected]

WESTON SENIORS A Warm Invitation from Peter, Valerie, Anna and Viv New villagers are always welcome.

Contact Anna for more information 840725

Coffee Come along and join us for a chat and some Morning refreshments

We usually meet in the village hall on the second Monday of each month 10.30am - 11.30am

Our next meeting is on 13th September

HARTWELL & CO

TIMBER MERCHANTS & FENCING SPECIALISTS

Visit our well-stocked yard for timber, gates, fencing, trellis, decking & expert advice. www.hartwellfencing.co.uk 01386 840373 Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Sat 8.30am-12noon

The Timber Yard, Weston Subedge, Nr. Chipping Campden, GL55 6QH

Puzzles, cartoons, Smile, Movie Moments and children’s pages by courtesy of ParishPump.co.uk 2 15

It is over one hundred years since the In the same cemetery, there are more first tractor was brought to England. than 200 plain white graves of local and Commonwealth service people The tractor was produced in America who died during the two world wars, by Ford, the same company that and a memorial to the many local soldiers who died in the First World makes cars. The tractor was needed War. on the farms as so many man were away fighting in World War I. To wander around any cemetery or graveyard is to enter into the lives of generations of families. To see the Learning lessons from a graveyard grave of the still-born baby close to the If you’re looking for a quiet oasis away child who died in infancy, both near to from the bustle and busyness of the grandmother who died in her everyday life, there’s a place where nineties. The husband and wife who CRACKERS nature, heritage and the life histories of died within months of each other, are

Did you hear about the magic hundreds of local people are on alongside the wife who outlived her peaceful display. spouse by decades. tractor? How did the farmer find his lost Take a walk in your local cemetery. I’m always struck by how people are

cow? described. Most are defined by their The chances are it’s a place where family relationships – beloved What do you get when you cross a nature abounds, where socially-distant grandfather, grandmother, father, robot and a tractor? peace can be found, and you can mother, wife, husband, son or What do you call a sleeping bull? meditate on the deeper issues of life. daughter. Picture to colour It’s true that graveyards seldom feature Others are described by their roles in in most people’s favourite places to life – actress, golf professional or for visit. Many find them morbid, reminding the war graves, by their ranks. How them of their own mortality. long, I wonder, had the young men and women been in uniform before meeting Or they can prompt memories of loved their deaths – and being remembered ones no longer with us, and the ever after as soldiers? In some cases, sadness overcomes the happy it may have been just a few months. memories of the life shared together. Others simply rush past cemeteries or What, I find myself asking, would I like graveyards, without even noticing that to have written on my gravestone? they are there. How would each of us like to be remembered? How can long lives be But walk among the gravestones, read summed up in the few words you can the inscriptions and you find the stories fit on a gravestone? of people’s lives. Samuel Ryder, the Hertfordshire seed merchant who And what is it that we are doing in life devised the United States v Europe that will be of lasting value? Ryder Cup golf tournament, is buried in Cemeteries are places that can make the cemetery opposite the church you consider your own life and think about what is important in it. where I minister. When I visited

recently, someone had left golf balls on Revd Peter Crumpler

dozer. - It turned into a field! He tractor down. A transfarmer. A bull A transfarmer. A down. tractor He field! a into turned It his grave.

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The North Cotswold u3a is open to new members ‘Now I understand why the North Cotswold u3a is known as “The Friendly u3a’ (Freda) ‘My life can be divided into two parts, before the u3a and after the u3a. The “after” part is so much better’ (John) ‘I don’t know how I ever found time to go to work’ (Leslie) ‘Walking, reading, taking photographs, painting, improving my French, improving my cooking (not difficult this!) – the NCu3a fills my life with so much interest and Please check walk details carefully including whether booking is necessary. pleasure’ (Margaret) https://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/visiting-and-exploring/guided-walks

Never heard of the u3a then click on the u3a link below to learn more. A King’s Swell Battle – Tuesday 7th September – Moderate 3.5hr 7ml No qualifications are offered and no qualification is required other than that you We walk north and west across the (disputed) locations of the last battle of the are not in full-time work. There's no age restriction either! Come and join us to first Civil War near Stow and back via the Swells. learn, laugh and live! Start: 10.00 am Public car park next to Tesco north of Stow on the Wold. OS Map ref: SP 191 262. On the afternoon of the second Thursday of each month, we hold an Open Meeting when we are entertained and informed by a wide variety of speakers. Andoversford on the Gloucestershire Way – Tuesday 21st September – Moderate 3hr 6.5ml We hope that our Open Meetings at the newly refurbished Willersey Village A lovely walk taking in some lovely agricultural land and quaint villages. Lunch is Hall will re-start in September with the provisional programme below. available in the Royal Oak or drop down into Charlton Kings. Thursday – 9thSeptember Start: 10.00 am Andoversford, Station Road at the end near the Royal Oak pub. Places to see and things to do after Covid – Helen and Steve Wilkes‘ OS Map ref: SP 024 196. A collection of photographs from the places we have visited in our travels all over the world’. CW50 – Up, Up and Away – Tuesday 28th September – Moderate 5hr 10ml

Thursday – 14th October—Severn Freewheelers This autumn walk along a lovely stretch of the Cotswold Way, showcases some Severn Freewheelers is a group of advanced motorcyclists, providing a free out- pretty villages. We then climb up the scarp to get fine views in all directions. The return route uses the Winchcombe Way. Please bring a packed lunch. of-hours courier service for hospitals in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, North th Wiltshire and Herefordshire. This walk forms part of the celebrations of the 50 Anniversary of the Cotswold We carry blood, pathology samples, patient scans / x-rays, human milk, in fact Way. any medical essentials, between hospitals and healthcare facilities in the area. Start: 10.00 am Stanton village car park. OS Map ref: SP 067 344. This meeting will be followed by our AGM. Chipping Campden Town Walk – Every Tuesday and Thursday starting Thursday -11th November Tuneful Tubes? – David Wornham from Tuesday 22nd June – Easy 1.5hr A light hearted demonstration of the world-wide history of musical, and some not We will walk along the High Street and provide a historical tour of the town. From so musical, wind instruments. A cornet player from the age of 10 to 20, led from the granting of Campden’s Charter in the 1180s, the growth of the town and its the school orchestra to the local town band. I played bugle and military flute in magnificent buildings, to the arrival of the Arts and Crafts movement. my school Army Cadet Force, then played Refreshments available in the town after the walk. nothing for over 40 years whilst working. On Start: 14:00 on Tuesdays and 10:00 on Thursdays. Meet at the Market Hall in retirement from full-time work, I bought a the centre of town. OS Map ref: SP 151 392. euphonium and, five years later, joined a band again and now play in three local concert PLEASE use appropriate footwear as some walks may be steep and muddy in bands. I am a collector of musical wind places. EASY - Length may vary but terrain is mainly flat (level); MODERATE - instruments, giving talks and demonstrations to includes some hills and rough ground. STRENUOUS – may be rough underfoot local groups using a selection from my and ascents and descents may be steep. We welcome guide and hearing dogs - assembly of over 300. sorry, others not allowed.

More information on the Website:- Walks are free although we do invite donations to help fund our conservation https://u3asites.org.uk/north-cotswold and improvement work.

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service station is the ultimate human How to make the most of a meeting with fish paste sandwiches, you do not zoo.” need a proposer, seconder or vote. But Open and close every meeting with a you do need fish paste. Not everyone used motorway services welcoming smile and crossed fingers. back in the 1960s. Many people just Minutes. A minute is a brief record of pulled over onto the hard shoulder and Apologies for absence. These are just what was decided and why and any unpacked a picnic. There was even the an acknowledgement that someone relevant comments. For example, “It true story of the family who pulled their knew the meeting was on, but hasn’t was decided we would have fish paste car onto the central reservation of the turned up. sandwiches again, but Mrs Bloggs said motorway to have lunch – and survived she would like tuna next year.” to tell the tale. Quorum. A quorum is the minimum In praise of motorway services number without which you cannot have Every so often stop and ask, “what did Motorway services also confused a meeting. It is usually a third of the we actually decide?” And if you man- What have you got in common with the people. One distraught couple, heading total. age to decide something, who is going Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Eric north, reported their car had been to do it and when? (Some minutes Clapton? You have all visited the stolen. The police found they had What is a good number? The im- helpfully set this out in an extra column, Watford Gap Services on your way up crossed the pedestrian bridge, and portance of each member increases as which may be used as evidence when or down the M1. then could not find their car in the south the size of the group reduces. If you the action is not completed.) -bound car park. only have four people, then each mem- Back in the early 1960s, the M1 ber’s attendance is essential. AOB. Unless it is urgent, any other transformed the way that bands could Today there are 111 service stations in business should be discussed at the travel, and visiting the service station the UK. The law states that they must Ex officio. This simply means members next meeting. The purpose of an agen- was an integral part of their trip. In the not be more than 28 miles apart, or 30 who are automatically members and da is to set out what will be discussed. 60 or so years since motorway services minutes of travelling time. By law, they are not elected. There is no difference Members can decide on whether to opened, they have also become part of must provide two hours of free parking, in voting rights. attend based on the agenda. It is unfair life for tens of millions of us. free toilets, and a free play area for to discuss cucumber sandwiches if it is children. Chair. There should always be a chair not on the agenda. Motorway services not only provide a and preferably a vice chair. The chair much-needed break from the road, The first two motorway services were has a second or casting vote. Next meeting. Agree a date, time and they are also a great place for people- Watford Gap and Newport Pagnell, place. watching. All sizes, shapes and both of which opened in early Time. It is often true that the earlier the varieties of people can be found in one. November 1959, along with the M1. meeting starts, the sooner it ends. The End with the sign of relief. Thank peo- As one journalist put it: “a motorway chair should say “we aim to finish at 9 ple for coming. Remember fish paste is (or whenever)”. important but not that much.

We were deeply sorry to learn that on 24th Elections. If you have the same num- As always, this is a light-hearted guide. July 2021 we lost our good friend Martin ber of candidates or fewer than the There are plenty of good books and Grinnell to Covid-19. number of posts, you do not need an websites for the rules and regulations election. So, if you need two members on holding meetings. Martin was under treatment at Worcester on the sandwich subcommittee and two David Pickup Royal Hospital where he passed away. He people stand, you do not need an elec- tion. was a much loved character, entrepreneur and had been a funeral director in Evesham for Proposer and seconder. This is not many years. always necessary.

We remember his family at this difficult time. Voting. You only need a vote if there is a disagreement. If everyone is happy

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These may be funny, embarrassing, and…oh, just read VILLAGE HISTORY them yourself. Enjoy, and share them with someone who The Railway Station – Part 4 needs a laugh!

The planner for the Cheltenham to Honeybourne line was Great Western Railways Chief Engineer, James Inglis, and the final route he chose reflected Before setting off on a business trip to Birmingham, I called the hotel the shortest distance but with diversions to avoid difficult terrain. where I'd be staying to see if they had a gym. The hotel receptionist's sigh had a tinge of exasperation in it when she answered. One feature that could not be bypassed was the valley and stream near to "We have over 100 guests at this facility," she said. "Does this 'Jim' Stanway, which required a 210 yard long viaduct, incorporating fifteen 36 ft wide have a last name?" arches. The 50ft high structure also needed to incorporate a gradual curve and a 1 in 150 slope down from the Toddington end towards Broadway. Why is it that everyone can remember their childhood phone number, but can't remember the password they set up yesterday? Work on the viaduct started in March 1903, and the gang of 50 or so regular men began by excavating for the pier foundations down to a depth of 12 ft. By Overall, chickens have probably flown further as an airline meal than the Autumn, all the blue brick piers and arches were nearing completion. they have as a species. However, at 8.15am on Friday 13th (!) November, arch No 10 collapsed without warning, bringing down a 14 ton steam crane which had been used to hoist up Men don't want to see what's on television. They want to see WHAT materials from ground level. The noise of the collapse was heard over a mile ELSE is on television. away.

Online meetings: Not muting your mic is the new Reply To All. S M I L E S E L I M S Men from all parts of the line rushed to the site and immediately commenced a rescue operation. They managed to find the crane driver, a man named Smith, If people from Poland are called Poles, then why aren’t people from and placed him under arch No 9, while they tried to get another fellow who was Holland called Holes? under the remains of the crane. However, arch No 9 then collapsed, burying Smith again along with four other men. Just 40 minutes later arch No 8 fell in, Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren’t they just stale with cracks appearing in arch No 7. Smith was eventually pulled from the debris, bread to begin with? but tragically died later that night in the Cottage Hospital in Winchcombe.

He was one of four men killed, with seven others injured. The death toll could Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway well have been much worse as the men generally took their breakfast at 8.30am beneath the same arches that collapsed. One of the injured men remained in Following the relaxation of COVID measures by the government, the railway hospital for seven months, so severe was the extent of his injuries, but he must returned to a normal timetable from 20 July, The timetable is similar to the pre- have been well looked after, for after his discharge, he married the Matron! pandemic timetable, but there is now an earlier train from Cheltenham Race Course to Broadway, arriving at 1039. This allows visitors to send a relaxed few The subsequent Inquest returned verdicts of ‘accidental death’, but with a rider hours in Broadway village before concluding that, considering the state of the weather, insufficient time had been catching the last train back to allowed for the lime mortar to set before the supporting centres were removed. Cheltenham at 1510. Please keep an The positioning of the crane was also criticised. The Coroner also eye on the railway’s website, recommended that arches of this type should be built using cement mortar www.gwsr.com for details, updates during the winter period. and developments as they occur.

The viaduct was eventually completed without further mishap by the summer of Our volunteers are continuing to keep 1904. The contractor also paid compensation for the loss of life and injuries. the station area looking well-cared for, and the footbridge team continues to Any comments to: [email protected] progress work on the platform 1 staircase panelling.

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Sudoku Each line, column and square must contain the numbers 1 to 9. VILLAGE HISTORY Easy Intermediate The Railway Station – Part 5

The summer of 1904 saw a concerted effort to open the line from Honeybourne to Broadway. This included completing construction of the station serving Weston, but being midway between two villages, it was originally named ‘Bretforton and Weston-sub-Edge’ with two hyphens!): this was subsequently shortened to ‘Weston-sub-Edge’ in 1907.

Weston station had the usual 400ft long platforms, with a waiting shelter on the far platform – this was accessed by way of a footpath from the nearby road bridge that had been built to carry the Weston – Bretforton road over the new track. The main building on the platform closest to the village comprised Station Masters office, Booking Hall, Ladies Waiting Room and Gents Toilet. There was also a signal box, goods shed and a short siding to the weighbridge.

Staffing extended to a Station Master, Mr D G Merritt, with one Porter/ Signalman. There was a house for the Station Master, and two other dwellings for the track maintenance team of ganger and platelayer. All shared a pump, supplemented by a churn of water sent to each house every day by train from Toddington. Throughout its life the station was lit by oil lamps.

Sometime during July 1904, a small fire broke out at the station site. A telegram was sent to the nearest fire brigade at Broadway, who arrived some 45 minutes Rural Cinema later to find the blaze all but extinguished. This response time was considered good for the 3½ miles travelled, together with the time taken for the men, all being volunteers, to assemble and then catch the horses to pull the fire engine! We hope to resume showing films in September at 8.00pm in WsE Village Hall This incident doesn’t appear to have delayed the opening of the station, as the first train bound for Broadway left Honeybourne at 07.14am on 1st August 1904. Please check on the village website for further information. It comprised six all third class coaches, but with only 15 passengers on board. Several others boarded at Weston, to be greeted at Broadway by a large crowd.

The service soon increased to ten trains a day in each direction with freight Thank you to all those in these parishes who voluntarily give forming a significant proportion of traffic. Milk was sent from Weston by their time to Weston and Aston-sub-Edge and their residents, Tredwells, Brodys and Robinsons, together with fruit and vegetables by J both old and young. Haydon. Apples were also sent by Merivale Fruit Farm and if Webbs at Mickleton couldn’t get all their cauliflowers out via Long Marsdon, they would dispatch some from Weston to ease congestion. Not too far from the station was the slaughter house of D Perkins, who sent meat regularly up to London in Please mention the Messenger when contacting casks. When he had enough bones, these would be sent to the Sheppey Glue any of our advertisers. Company in Kent.

ADVERTISEMENTS Next month; What did Weston Station look like?

If you know anyone wishing to advertise please tell them Any comments to: [email protected] about the Messenger and to contact the Editor on 01386 859625

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September 2021

I was reflecting recently on these words, from the hymn, O Jesus, I have

promised to serve thee to the end:

‘O Jesus, thou hast promised, to all who follow thee, Holy Holy

that where thou art in glory there shall thy servant be; Edge

6.30 6.30 pm 6.30 pm 6.30 pm

Evensong Evensong

Aston Aston sub (Traditional) and, Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end: Communion O give me grace to follow, my Master and my friend.’

Over the years, I must have sung those words hundreds of times and yet, when I

read them, it was as if I were hearing them for the first time, especially the line,

‘O give me grace to follow, my Master and my friend.’

Holy Holy Edge

In St Mark’s Gospel, chapter 8, from verse 31 onwards, Jesus tells his disciples (Modern)

11.00am Communion that he must undergo, ‘great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief Westonsub

priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.’ The

impact of the words on his followers is best seen in Peter’s response. What

Jesus said was so unthinkable that, ‘Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him’. Jesus is having none of it, though. ‘Get behind me Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things’, is the stinging

rebuke that Peter receives for his trouble. Jesus knew why he had left the glory Holy

September

9.00 9.00 am

(Modern) (Modern)

10.00am 11.00am 10.00am Willersey

and splendour of his Father’s presence. He knew his mission. His purpose. He

-

(Traditional)

Communion

FamilyHarvest

Morning Morning Prayer Morning Morning Prayer came to abide with us, ultimately, to die and rise again for each one of us – to Service Festival

pardon us, to save us from our sins and to open to every believer the way to

eternal life. Nothing, no one, would deter him. This is how precious we are to our

Heavenly Father.

As I thought about the hymn and the words from St Mark’s Gospel, it occurred to Holy

me that asking Christ to, ‘give me grace to follow’, is a much more profound and Holy

Family

Service

9.00 9.00 am

(Modern) 11.00am

less easy to pray prayer than we might first think. Truly following Jesus Christ 11.00am

Communion

(Traditional)

Communion

ChurchServices

means being willing to walk with him along the path where we are called to, ‘deny Honeybourne ourselves and take up our cross’, as well as the path where we encounter sheer

joy, utter delight and peace beyond our understanding.

September is often a time of new beginnings, especially for the children around

us, for their parents and carers and for the adults who work in our schools. I Family

encourage you to pray for them, that they would have grace to follow Jesus Service

Harvest Harvest Festival 11.00am

Christ – not just our Master, but our Friend, too – as a new academic year Dorsington begins. You see, whilst it is a joy, privilege and blessing far above any others

that we will know this side of heaven, following Jesus isn’t always the easy

option. It means taking an honest and hard look at our values, our priorities, our

life in its entirety and, having done so, realigning ourselves to follow Christ’s

example. Is it worth it? YES – a hundred thousand times, YES! That’s my

Holy Holy Family

testimony and the testimony of millions and millions of people who have followed Service

(Modern)

11.00am 11.00am Pebworth

Jesus Christ in the past, who follow him now and who, despite what the media Communion might have you believe, will follow him in the future and until time is no more.

I’m praying in the days ahead for you and for me – for grace to be able to really

mean those words, ‘O give me grace to follow, my Master and my friend.’

th th th

th

With love,

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Scott 12

Trinity 16 Trinity Trinity14 Trinity15 Trinity17

September September September Revd Scott Watts Team Vicar September 8 9